Covid: Drop-in vaccination sites set up across England

Any adult in England will be able to “grab a jab” this weekend without an appointment at hundreds of walk-in Covid-19 vaccination sites.

People aged 18 and over can just turn up at the NHS drop-in sites, which include football stadiums, theatres, supermarket car parks and shopping centres.

The NHS will publicise the sites locally so people can choose the best location for them, or they can be found at nhs.uk/grab-a-jab.

Among the sports grounds involved are the Newcastle Eagles basketball arena, Watford’s Vicarage Road, Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium and Edgbaston cricket ground.

Buses offering jabs will also operate in Dudley, Colchester, Ipswich and elsewhere, while community vaccinators will visit the housebound.

The drop-in centres are open for people having their first dose but can also provide second jabs for the over-40s who had their first at least eight weeks ago, or at least 12 weeks ago for the under-40s.

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said: “We are throwing open the doors of hundreds of vaccine centres across the country this weekend so anyone can just show up.

“I urge anyone who has yet to take up the offer to head to their nearest walk-in centre this weekend and get the life-saving jab.

“It’s becoming clearer all the time how effective our vaccines are in protecting against the Delta variant and with three in five people double-vaccinated, we’re well on our way to the whole country getting the fullest possible protection.

“So I’d urge everyone not yet fully vaccinated aged 18 and over to get your first and second doses as soon as possible to protect yourself and your loved ones.”

The NHS is braced for high demand as anyone in England over the age of 18 can now book a Covid-19 vaccination jab.
Yui Mok

Sir Simon Stevens, NHS chief executive, said: “With more than 63 million jabs already delivered by the NHS in England, we’re now in a race to the finish line.

“It’s now easier than ever to get your life-saving jab, and the more of us who are vaccinated the safer and freer we all will be.

“So this weekend why not join millions of others and grab a jab to take advantage of this life-saving protection?”

It comes as data shows just over a third of people aged 18 to 24 have already come forward for vaccines.

More than one million appointments were booked last Friday and Saturday – an average of more than 21,000 every hour, or six every second.

People who attend a walk-in clinic for their first dose will have their vaccination record updated online and will then be able to make an appointment for their second jab using the national booking system.

Dr Emily Lawson, NHS England’s lead for the vaccination programme, said: “Now is the time to get your vaccination, with all adults now eligible.

“We all know they are life-saving and getting jabbed helps protect us all from coronavirus, with thousands of brilliant staff ready to get you vaccinated at the rate supply allows.

“If you haven’t yet got vaccinated for whatever reason, this is the weekend to get that sorted and join the tens of millions who have protected themselves and their loved ones from the virus.”

Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi added: “Vaccines are our way out of this pandemic and thanks to our NHS and the British public, they are already saving thousands of lives.

“No matter where you live, where you come from, your background or your beliefs, provided you are over 18 there is a vaccine available to you.

“I urge everyone eligible to get to their nearest walk-in centre this weekend, get their jab and help us get back to normality.”